my skin
is a road map
through pain
marked by scars
that slowly trace
their way
through a lifetime
of lessons forgotten

my blood
is kerosene
rendered inert
under pressure
every breath
a catalyst
designed and intended
to ignite

my soul
an oil spattered
stain glass portrait
of stained shards
pointedly
turned within
grating
with every breath

my heart
wrapped in barb wire
wired
with plastic explosives
ready to burst
into a cloud of shrapnel
hoping to impale
another innocent victim